It was revealed on Wednesday that Caitlin Clark had been named to the All-WNBA first team alongside Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson, Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier, New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart and Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas.
Despite putting together a successful rookie season of her own, Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese was left off both the All-WNBA first and second teams. In addition to missing out on the postseason All-WNBA teams, Reese also came up short against Clark in the WNBA Rookie of the Year voting in early October.
Reese, the No. 7 pick out of LSU in April’s 2024 WNBA draft, averaged 13.6 points and a league-leading 13.1 rebounds per game. Like Clark, Reese broke numerous records, including the most rebounds in a single season in WNBA history (446). However, due to a wrist injury that sidelined her for the final six games of the regular season, Wilson was able to take the rebounding record from the rookie. Reese does, though, hold the WNBA record for most consecutive double-doubles (15).
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (right) and Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (left)
Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Dating back to their days in college, Clark and Reese have battled in one of the most covered rivalries in the history of women’s basketball. Things began to heat up for the duo in 2023 when Reese’s LSU Tigers knocked off Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes in the NCAAW National Championship.
A year later, Clark avenged her loss to Reese, beating LSU in the Elite Eight before eventually losing the 2024 national championship to the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Though the two have openly denied there being any rivalry, many fans felt the physical play on the court during the 2024 WNBA season suggested otherwise when the Fever and the Sky would meet.
The outspoken Reese has frequently mentioned that the opinions of critics and fans do not matter to her. Immediately after the news of Clark making the All-WNBA team was revealed, Reese continued the trend by reposting a message from SIE on X, claiming she still doesn’t care about these opinions.
“Wanting validation from ppl who aren’t even valid is insane,” SIE wrote on X before Reese reposted.
With the exclusion of Reese from the All-WNBA teams, the rookie is likely to receive more criticism from fans, especially since her rival did, in fact, make the team. But, with her latest repost, Reese has made it clear that these critiques still won’t affect her going forward.
